ABERDEEN RESIDENT SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR METH DISTRIBUTION AND ILLEGAL RE-ENTRY INTO U.S.A. - Defendant Was Arrested with Nearly Two Pounds of Highly Pure Meth Hidden in Car
RUBEN BAEZ MANCILLA, 35, of Aberdeen, Washington was sentenced September 14, 2006 to 51 months in prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, and Illegal Re-entry after Deportation. RUBEN BAEZ MANCILLA was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Franklin D. Burgess in Tacoma, Washington. BAEZ MANCILLA will be deported following his prison term.
According to court documents, BAEZ MANCILLA had been deported from the United States in April 2003. He illegally reentered the U.S. and returned to the Grays Harbor, Washington area. In April 2005, the Grays Harbor Drug Task Force received a tip that BAEZ MANCILLA was transporting methamphetamine to Grays Harbor. BAEZ MANCILLA was using a car that had previously been connected to another methamphetamine distributor. BAEZ MANCILLA was pulled over and arrested on an outstanding warrant. A drug dog alerted to the presence of drugs in the car. Investigators discovered special toggle switches in the front of the car that were wired to secret compartments in the back. When the switches were activated the doors to the secret compartments opened up. Inside investigators found nearly two pounds of highly pure methamphetamine, known as “Ice.” Such highly pure methamphetamine has been flowing into the northwest up the I-5 corridor from Mexico.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Grays Harbor Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew H. Thomas and Kelly Harris.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington, at (206) 553-4110.
